Margate: Mind your manners, people

MARGATE — City commissioners want the public to show them some respect.

Effective immediately, residents who address commissioners during public meetings must use the "mayor," "vice mayor" or "commissioner" titles.

No more last names only, which Mayor Lesa Peerman found to be deliberately rude and "disrespectful."

"When you're in the chambers I think you should be called by the title the people gave you," she said. "Outside the door you can call me any name you want. But in a meeting you should be called by that title."

The first two times, Peerman said she'll correct the speaker. The third time, they'll be asked to sit down. "It's simple common courtesy," she said.